Hartford College – Stage 1
2024 Gwea Country / Daceyville, NSW
State of the art campus embodies new school aspiring to Wisdom, Virtue and Academic Excellence.
Hartford College is a Catholic Liberal Arts school for boys in years 5 to 12 which opened in 2023 and inhabits the site of a former Catholic primary school. The college is located in heritage-listed Daceyville, in eastern Sydney, a garden suburb planned by Sir John Sulman around the time of WWI.
Tradition and Progress in Balance
Hartford College grows while respecting its heritage foundations.
SCA’s masterplan consists of several phases of work. A completed initial stage delivers a dynamic and future-focused learning environment, thoughtfully designed to support a diverse range of educational activities. The development includes three modern classrooms, a flexible teaching space, a fully equipped science laboratory with dedicated support areas, and a workshop tailored for hands-on technical and practical education.
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“A key design feature is the use of a cohesive colour palette that reflects the school’s identity, with deep blue tones and neutral accents that align with the school’s uniform.”
At the heart of the project is a commitment to adaptive reuse, transforming an under-utilised 1950’s school building into a state-of-the-art learning facility.
By repurposing existing spaces, the design team maximised sustainability outcomes, reducing material waste and the environmental impact of new construction. Thoughtful spatial planning, upgraded mechanical services, and contemporary finishes breathe new life into the building, ensuring it meets the needs of a liberal arts education while preserving the character and legacy of the original structure.
Natural light, durable finishes, and contemporary furnishings have been incorporated throughout, ensuring a bright, engaging, and adaptable educational setting. These spaces have been carefully designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation, providing students and educators with a high-quality learning environment that supports both traditional and modern teaching methodologies.
Hartford College Stage 1 Gallery
| Project info | Details |
|---|---|
| Team | Sam Crawford, Gabrielle Pelletier, Héléna Short, Rhys Nicholas, Justine Anderson, Justin Pak, Sofia Nay |
| Builder | Rork Projects |
| Consultants | Landscape Architect – Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects Heritage Consultant – Weir Phillips Architects Structure & Services – ACOR Traffic Engineer – SLR Consulting Arborist – Tree IQ Civil Engineer – ACOR Geotechnical Engineer – SLR Consulting Acoustic Consultant – WSP Waste Management Consultant – Dickens Solutions BCA Consultant – BCA Logic PCA – Aramini + Leedham Consulting Town Planner – Creative Planning Solutions Quantity Surveyor – RPS |
| Client | Hartford College |
| Photographer | Josh Hill Photography |
| Completion | 2024 |
What we do
Education
Our learning environments are designed to support curiosity, inclusivity and growth. We collaborate with education providers to create spaces that serve students, educators and communities across all ages. From early learning to tertiary campuses, our focus is on functionality, flexibility and a deep understanding of context.
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Hartford College – Stage 2
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Hartford College Masterplan
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